Air-conditioning apparatus

ABSTRACT

An air-conditioning apparatus includes: an outdoor unit; and an indoor unit that is connected to the outdoor unit via a refrigerant pipe and performs air-conditioning of an indoor space in combination with the outdoor unit based on manipulation of a remote control. The outdoor unit includes: a stop switch and a return-to-operation switch; and a microcomputer that, when the stop switch is turned on while the indoor space is being air-conditioned, stops operation of the indoor and outdoor units, to stop performing air-conditioning of the indoor space, and that, when the return-to-operation switch is turned on while the air-conditioning of the indoor space is inactivated by turning on the stop switch, resumes the operation of the indoor unit to perform air-conditioning of the indoor space in combination with the outdoor unit.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an air-conditioning apparatus provided with a function to stop operation of an indoor unit through an outdoor unit upon conducting maintenance on the outdoor unit.

BACKGROUND ART

A conventional air-conditioning apparatus is known that is provided with an operation manipulation switch so that any operation for starting refrigerant recovery, starting a trial run, or inactivating (stopping operation is performed depending on the ON time (length of time duration over which the operation manipulation switch is turned on) of the operation manipulation switch (see, e.g., Patent Literature 1).

Another example of the conventional air-conditioning apparatuses is that an outdoor unit is provided with a trial run switch and a stop switch so that a trial run is started when the trial run switch is turned on, while the trial run is stopped when the stop switch is turned on (see, e.g., Patent Literature 2).

Further example of the conventional air-conditioning apparatuses is that an outdoor unit is provided with a trial run switch so that the trial run switch makes a plurality of indoor units operate sequentially one by one (see, e.g., Patent Literature 3).

All of the air-conditioning apparatuses mentioned above presume that the operation of the air-conditioning apparatus is turned into a non-operating state; that is, after the operation is inactivated (or stopped; herein, “inactivate” and “stop” may be used interchangeably) by manipulating a remote control placed indoors, the apparatus is manipulated through the outdoor unit.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2011-202924 (Pages 3-4, FIGS. 1-3)

Patent Literature 2: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-144990 (Pages 3-4, FIG. 1)

Patent Literature 3: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-324197 (Pages 2-3, FIGS. 1, 4)

As mentioned above, when stopping the operation of the conventional air-conditioning apparatus for maintenance, etc., it is required to perform the manipulation to stop the air-conditioning apparatus with a remote control installed indoors. For this reason, when conducting maintenance on the outdoor unit side, it is necessary for an operator to go back indoors to manipulate the remote control. There have been problems in that it may be substantially time-consuming to return to the operation depending on the installation conditions of the air-conditioning apparatus, and in that the operation of the indoor unit cannot be inactivated (stopped) if it is impossible to enter indoors where the indoor unit is installed.

The present invention is made to overcome the above-mentioned problems, and the first object thereof is to provide an air-conditioning apparatus that can stop operation of an indoor unit through an outdoor unit while conducting maintenance of the outdoor unit and can resume the operation.

The second object thereof is to provide an air-conditioning apparatus that can make an indoor unit unable to be manipulated by a remote control when the operation of the indoor unit is inactivated while conducting maintenance of the outdoor unit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An air-conditioning apparatus according to the present invention includes: an outdoor unit; and an indoor unit that is connected to the outdoor unit via a refrigerant pipe and performs air-conditioning of an indoor space in combination with the outdoor unit based on manipulation of a remote control, wherein the outdoor unit includes: a stop switch and a return switch; and an outdoor control unit that, when the stop switch is turned on while the indoor space is being air-conditioned, stops operation of the indoor and outdoor units to stop performing air-conditioning of the indoor space, and that, when the return switch is turned on while the air-conditioning of the indoor space is inactivated by turning on the stop switch, resumes the operation of the indoor unit to perform air-conditioning of the indoor space in combination with the outdoor unit.

According to the present invention, when the stop switch is turned on while the indoor space is being air-conditioned, the operation of the indoor and outdoor units is inactivated to stop performing air-conditioning of the indoor space, and when the return switch is turned on while the air-conditioning of the indoor space is inactivated by turning on the stop switch, the operation of the indoor unit is resumed to perform air-conditioning of the indoor space in combination with the outdoor unit. With this configuration, the operation of the indoor unit can be inactivated and returned without manipulating the remote control of the indoor unit. This eliminates the labor to manipulate the remote control installed indoors to stop the operation from the indoor unit side upon conducting maintenance on the outdoor unit, so that the time required for maintenance can be reduced. It also allows the maintenance to be conducted if it is impossible to enter indoors where the indoor unit is installed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an outdoor unit and an indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating operation of the air-conditioning apparatus based on manipulation of a maintenance manipulation unit of the outdoor unit shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a relation between ON time of a return switch and an operational mode of the air-conditioning apparatus according to a second embodiment. and

FIG. 4 is a circuit block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an outdoor unit in a variation of the second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an outdoor unit and an indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according to the first embodiment.

An air-conditioning apparatus 100 includes an outdoor unit 1 and an indoor unit 11 connected to the outdoor unit 1 via a refrigerant pipe. The outdoor unit 1 is installed outdoors, and includes an outdoor control substrate 2, a compressor, a four-way valve, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion valve, an outdoor fan, and the like. The outdoor heat exchanger of the outdoor unit 1 serves as a condenser in the cooling operation or as an evaporator in the heating operation. The indoor unit 11 is installed indoors on the wall or ceiling, and includes an indoor control substrate 12, an indoor heat exchanger, an indoor fan, and the like. The indoor heat exchanger of the indoor unit 11 serves as an evaporator in the cooling operation or as a condenser in the heating operation.

The outdoor control substrate 2 is implemented with a microcomputer 3 for controlling the outdoor unit, a maintenance manipulation unit 4 having a stop switch 4 a to stop the operation of the air-conditioning apparatus 100 and a return-to-operation switch 4 b to return to the operation thereof, an outdoor communication circuit 5, and the like. The microcomputer 3 includes an outdoor control unit for controlling operation of the compressor, switching of the four-way valve depending on either cooling or heating operation, an opening degree of the expansion valve, and operation of the outdoor fan.

The above-mentioned microcomputer 3, when the stop switch 4 a is turned on, sends a stop signal to stop the operation of the indoor unit 11 to the indoor unit 11 via the outdoor communication circuit 5. In addition, when the operation of the indoor unit 11 is inactivated by turning on the stop switch 4 a, i.e. the operation of the air-conditioning apparatus 100 is stopped, and then the return-to-operation switch 4 b is turned on, the microcomputer 3 sends an operation return-to-operation signal to return to the operation of the indoor unit 11 to the indoor unit 11 via the outdoor communication circuit 5.

The indoor control substrate 12 is implemented with a microcomputer 13 for controlling the indoor unit, an indoor communication circuit 14, a memory 15, and the like. The indoor control substrate 12 is connected with a remote control 16 via a communication line 17, the remote control 16 having operating buttons 16 a for setting the air-conditioning of the indoor space and a liquid crystal display 16 b. The communication line 17 is connected with the microcomputer 13 via the indoor control substrate 12.

Although the remote control 16 is shown as a wired remote control, it may be a wireless remote control instead. If the remote control 16 is provided as a wireless remote control, the indoor control substrate 12 is implemented with a photodetector for receiving infrared radiation emitted from the remote control 16 to convert it to an electric signal to input into the microcomputer 13.

The microcomputer 13 includes an indoor control unit to control the operation of the indoor fan depending on the degree of airflow set by the remote control 16. The microcomputer 13, when the stop signal from the outdoor communication circuit 5 is received via the indoor communication circuit 14, stores operating information in the memory 15, including a current operational state, an operational mode of e.g. either cooling or heating operation, a preset temperature of the indoor space, and the like, and stops the operation of the indoor unit 11.

Moreover, the microcomputer 13, when the return-to-operation signal from the outdoor communication circuit 5 is received via the indoor communication circuit 14, resumes the operation of the indoor unit 11 so as to return to the operational state before the stop based on the operating information stored in the memory 15, and sends the operating information to the outdoor communication circuit 5 via the indoor communication circuit 14 to cause the outdoor unit 1 to resume the operation.

With reference to FIG. 2, the description is provided regarding the operation of the outdoor unit 1 and the indoor unit 11 based on the manipulation of the maintenance manipulation unit 4 in the air-conditioning apparatus 100 configured as described above.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating operation of the air-conditioning apparatus based on manipulation of the maintenance manipulation unit of the outdoor unit shown in FIG. 1. Here, the flowchart on the left in this figure illustrates the operation of the outdoor unit 1, while the flowchart on the right illustrates the operation of the indoor unit 11.

When the operation has been continued based on the manipulation of the remote control 16 (S1), and the stop switch 4 a of the maintenance manipulation unit 4 is turned on (S2), the microcomputer 3 of the outdoor unit 1 sends the stop signal to the indoor communication circuit 14 of the indoor unit 11 via the outdoor communication circuit 5 (S3).

Then, the microcomputer 3 stops the operation of the outdoor unit 1 (S4). Stopping the operation of the outdoor unit 1 corresponds to stopping the operation of the compressor, closing the expansion valve, and stopping the operation of the outdoor fan after stopping the operation of the indoor unit 11 as described below. At this point, maintenance of the outdoor unit 1 can be conducted. The microcomputer 3 determines whether the return-to-operation switch 4 b of the maintenance manipulation unit 4 is turned on (S5), and, if the return-to-operation switch 4 b is not turned on, waits until the return-to-operation switch 4 b is turned on.

On the other hand, when the operation has been continued based on the manipulation of the remote control 16 (S11), and the stop signal from the outdoor communication circuit 5 is received via the indoor communication circuit 14 (S12), the microcomputer 13 of the indoor unit 11 displays the disability of manipulation of the remote control 16 on the liquid crystal display 16 b of the remote control 16 and disables the manipulation of the operating buttons 16 a of the remote control 16 (S13, S14). This prevents the air-conditioning apparatus 100 from operating by manipulating the remote control while the outdoor unit 1 is in maintenance.

Next, the microcomputer 13 stores the operating information immediately before stopping the operation of the indoor unit 11 in the memory 15 (S15), and stops the operation of the indoor unit 11 (S16). Stopping the operation of the indoor unit 11 corresponds to stopping the operation of the indoor fan and closing a louver. Then, the microcomputer 13 determines whether the return-to-operation signal from the outdoor communication circuit 5 is received via the indoor communication circuit 14 (S17), and, if the return-to-operation signal is not received, waits until the return-to-operation signal is received.

The microcomputer 3 of the outdoor unit 1, when the return-to-operation switch 4 b is turned on while being in the waiting state at step S5, sends the return-to-operation signal to the indoor communication circuit 14 of the indoor unit 11 via the outdoor communication circuit 5 (S6). Next, the microcomputer 3 determines whether the operating information immediately before the stop is received via the outdoor communication circuit 5 (S7), and, if the operating information is not received, waits until the operating information is received.

On the other hand, the microcomputer 13 of the indoor unit 11, when the return-to-operation signal is received via the indoor communication circuit 14 while being in the waiting state at step S17, clears the disability notification of manipulation displayed on the liquid crystal display 16 b (S18), and enables the manipulation of the operating buttons 16 a of the remote control 16 (S19). Then, the microcomputer 13 retrieves the operating information immediately before the stop stored in the memory 15, and sends the operating information to the outdoor communication circuit 5 of the outdoor unit 1 via the indoor communication circuit 14 (S20). Next, the microcomputer 13 resumes the operation of the indoor unit 11 so as to return to the operational state before the stop based on the operating information (S21). In this case, the variable control of the louver, the operation of the indoor fan, and the like are performed based on the above-mentioned operating information.

The microcomputer 3 of the outdoor unit 1, when the operating information is received via the outdoor communication circuit 5 while being in the waiting state at step S7, resumes the operation of the outdoor unit 1 based on the operating information (S8) so as to return to the air-conditioning state before the stop in combination with the indoor unit 11.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, when the stop switch 4 a of the outdoor unit 1 is turned on, the operation of the indoor unit 11 is inactivated along with the outdoor unit 1, and when the air-conditioning has been inactivated by turning on the stop switch 4 a and then the return-to-operation switch 4 b is turned on, the operation of the indoor unit 11 is resumed along with the outdoor unit 1. With this configuration, the operation of the indoor unit 11 can be inactivated and resumed without manipulating the remote control 16 of the indoor unit 11. This eliminates the necessity to manipulate the remote control 16 installed indoors to stop the operation from the indoor unit 11 side upon conducting maintenance on the outdoor unit 1, so that the time required for maintenance can be reduced. It also allows the maintenance to be conducted if it is impossible to enter indoors where the indoor unit 11 is installed.

When the indoor unit 11 resumes its operation, the air-conditioning is conducted in combination with the outdoor unit 1 so as to return to the operational state before the stop based on the operating information stored in the memory 15 immediately before the stop. With this configuration, the air-conditioning is conducted in the operating state before conducting the maintenance, so that it can eliminate the necessity of resetting by a user and provide better service of maintenance.

Moreover, while the outdoor unit 1 is in maintenance, the liquid crystal display 16 b of the remote control 16 of the indoor unit 11 displays that the manipulation is disabled, and the manipulation of the remote control 16 is disabled. With this configuration, the outdoor unit 1 can be maintained safely.

Second Embodiment

The second embodiment is configured so that, while the operation of the indoor unit 11 along with the outdoor unit 1 is inactivated by turning on the stop switch 4 a, the manipulation of the return-to-operation switch 4 b allows a trial run of the outdoor unit 1 and the indoor unit 11 to be performed or stopped.

FIG. 3 illustrates a relation between ON time (time duration over which the operation manipulation switch is turned on) of the return switch and the operational mode of the air-conditioning apparatus according to the second embodiment. The configuration of the second embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment as shown in FIG. 1.

In the second embodiment, the microcomputer 3 of the outdoor unit 1 includes an outdoor control unit which starts the trial run if ON time t of the return-to-operation switch 4 b is longer than a first set time t1 and equal to or shorter than a second set time t2 (t1<t≦t2), and stops the trial run if, while the trial run has been performed, the ON time t of the return-to-operation switch 4 b is longer than the second set time t2 (t2<t). The trial run is performed when the outdoor unit 1 and the indoor unit 11 have been inactivated by turning on the stop switch 4 a.

This microcomputer 3, when determined that the trial run is to be performed based on the ON time t of the return-to-operation switch 4 b, sends a trial run start signal for performing the trial run to the microcomputer 13 of the indoor unit 11 via the outdoor communication circuit 5 and the indoor communication circuit 14. In addition, the microcomputer 3, while the trial run has been performed and when determined that the trial run is to be inactivated based on the ON time t of the return-to-operation switch 4 b, sends a trial run stop signal for stopping the trial run to the microcomputer 13 of the indoor unit 11 via the outdoor communication circuit 5 and the indoor communication circuit 14.

Moreover, when the ON time t of the return-to-operation switch 4 b is equal to or shorter than the first set time t1 (0<t≦t1), the operation of the indoor unit 11 which has been inactivated by turning on the stop switch 4 a is resumed along with the outdoor unit 1, as in the first embodiment. Upon resuming the operation, the outdoor unit 1 and the indoor unit 11 operate based on the operating information immediately before the stop stored in the memory 15 with the indoor unit 11.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the trial run can be performed in the state where the operation is inactivated and the manipulation of the remote control 16 is disabled on the outdoor unit 1 side, so that the maintenance can also be conducted smoothly and safely if it is impossible to enter indoors where the remote control 16 is installed.

While in the second embodiment the trial run is started when the ON time t of the return-to-operation switch 4 b is longer than the first set time t1 and equal to or shorter than the second set time t2, either operational mode of cooling or heating may be selected arbitrarily when performing the trial run.

FIG. 4 is a circuit block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the outdoor unit in a variation of the second embodiment. As shown in the figure, the outdoor control substrate 2 of the outdoor unit 1 is provided with a DIP switch 18 for switching the operational mode to select either operational mode of cooling or heating by the DIP switch 18 before the trial run is performed with the return-to-operation switch 4 b.

A microcomputer 19 selects either operational mode of cooling or heating based on the switching operation of the DIP switch 18 in addition to the function of the microcomputer 3 as described in the second embodiment. This microcomputer 19 performs the selected operational mode (cooling or heating) when determined that the trial run is to be performed from the ON time t of the return-to-operation switch 4 b (t1<t≦t2).

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

1 outdoor unit, 2 outdoor control substrate, 3 microcomputer, 4 maintenance manipulation unit, 4 a stop switch, 4 b return switch, 5 outdoor communication circuit, 11 indoor unit, 12 indoor control substrate, 13 microcomputer, 14 indoor communication circuit, 15 memory, 16 remote control, 16 a operating button, 16 b liquid crystal display, 17 communication line, 18 DIP switch, 19 microcomputer, 100 air-conditioning apparatus. 

1. An air-conditioning apparatus comprising: an outdoor unit; and an indoor unit that is connected to the outdoor unit via a refrigerant pipe and performs air-conditioning of an indoor space in combination with the outdoor unit based on manipulation of a remote control, wherein the outdoor unit comprises: a stop switch and a return-to-operation switch; and an outdoor control unit that, when the stop switch is turned on while the indoor space is being air-conditioned, stops operation of the indoor and outdoor units to stop performing air-conditioning of the indoor space, and that, when the return-to-operation switch is turned on while the air-conditioning of the indoor space is inactivated by turning on the stop switch, resumes the operation of the indoor unit to perform air-conditioning of the indoor space in combination with the outdoor unit.
 2. The air-conditioning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the indoor unit comprises an indoor control unit that disables manipulation of the remote control when the operation is inactivated by turning on the stop switch.
 3. The air-conditioning apparatus of claim 2, wherein, when the manipulation of the remote control is disabled, the indoor control unit displays a notification that represents that the manipulation is disabled on a display of the remote control.
 4. The air-conditioning apparatus of claim 2, wherein the indoor control unit, when stopping performance of air-conditioning of the indoor space by turning on the stop switch, holds operating information before the stop, and, when resuming the operation by turning on the return-to-operation switch, returns to an operational state before the stop based on the operating information, so as to perform the air-conditioning of the indoor space in combination with the outdoor unit.
 5. The air-conditioning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the outdoor control unit starts a trial run when the operation is in an inactivated state due to turning on the stop switch and if ON time of the return-to-operation switch is longer than a first set time and equal to or shorter than a second set time, the second set time being longer than the first set time, and stops the trial run when the trial run has been performed and if the ON time of the return-to-operation switch is longer than the second set time. 